A/N: This chapter is a bit longer than the previous ones. I hope you're all okay with that :)
I was inspired to write this part after re-watching one of my favorite shows. *Sighs nostalgically*
In the future, I hope to get into other POVs and possibly more ships, but EreMika, EreAni, and LeviMika will remain the "plot-centric" ships, of course.
Let me know what you think!
And as always, thank you all for taking the time to read this and for just being awesome :)
One week later…
Stohess University
"Holy shit, that report took me forever to write!"
Ymir's screech of a celebration came as a shock to nearly everyone in the library, with several gasps and questioning stares spewing her direction from all angles of the building. Eren, who had grown used to her foul mouthed but seriously entertaining antics, simply yawned and nodded his head.
They were sitting across from each other, both glued to the screen of their laptops while working on their respective assignments.
"Congrats." Eren had finished writing his essay three days earlier, but rather than giving her a hard time about her procrastination, he chose to be more supportive. "Just in time for the weekend, too."
"Hell yeah!" Ymir reclined back into her seat and closed her eyes, as if savoring the moment of victory. "School has been killer. I need a little R and R."
"Couldn't agree more." Eren replied as he logged off his laptop and began stuffing a thick textbook into his backpack.
Ymir followed suit, more than ready to leave the place she had been confined to for nearly three hours. "You going to the kickback at Hitch's place tonight?"
Hitch Dreyse was one of Ymir's teammates. She was the quintessential hottie with the body. Her short, wavy, light brown hair was always neatly styled, flowing elegantly just above her shoulders. Long eyelashes and a trademark, flirtatious smirk paired nicely with her alluring features. It wasn't uncommon for guys to practically throw themselves at her; the occasional girl making an attempt to hit on her as well. (Ymir guilty of said act on numerous occasions.)
Barely getting by with a 3.0 GPA, she was far too lax about her studies, but far from caring either way. The bare minimum was her standard, and it didn't help that her priorities were massively skewed. Volleyball and socializing were among the few things that actually mattered in her boy-crazed, hedonistic, and borderline narcissistic world.
While some people were turned off by her attitude alone, Ymir was thoroughly impressed and commended Hitch for staying true to herself and not caring about what others thought. Their philosophies and outlook on life were roughly the same; both finding similar ways to rebel against society's bullshit rules and make a mockery of what was expected of them.
Eren had met Hitch on a couple of occasions, and truthfully, he had difficulty finding something, anything, to like about her. But as usual for Friday nights, he had no other plans. He and Mikasa had agreed on meeting up Saturday anyway.
"Yeah, I'll be there." He relented.
Hitch's apartment was surprisingly spacious.
Rather than living in the dorms with her cohorts, she opted for an apartment less than a couple miles off campus - with both a roommate and her parent's blessing, of course.
Eren arrived at around 9:00pm, figuring that wouldn't be too early or too late. A short walk up a single flight of stairs led him straight to the door. Level B. Room 203. He raised his fist and knocked three times.
Hitch answered the door almost instantly. "Eren! Nice of you to join us." Her breath carried a tiny hint of alcohol, and her speech was a bit slurred. It was hard to tell if she was being flirty, as she usually greeted everyone in the same manner. Eren thought the alcohol might have had some sort of impact otherwise.
Hitch led him to the living room where several others were gathered around the couch. In the kitchenette, a few people were taking shots and mixing drinks. A couple stragglers were standing near the hallway leading to the bedrooms. Ymir was among those socializing in the living room.
"Finally showed up, huh?" Ymir called out. Eren sensed she was buzzed.
After offering a general "hello" to everyone, with a simple wave and dubious look on his face, Eren walked over to where Ymir was sitting. For now, she and Hitch were the only people he was familiar with.
Ymir stood up from her seat and handed him a shot glass. A shot of what never crossed his mind, as he didn't even bother asking.
"Here." She said. "Got some catching up to do." She chuckled.
Eren nodded and threw it back, successfully preventing any sort of contortion of disgust or regret from being etched on his face.
It burns!
Suddenly, the arrival of Hitch's roommate had everyone temporarily distracted.
She had strolled out of her bedroom, ascending from the end of the hallway, clad in nike shorts and a blue tank top.
"Look who finally came out of her cave!" Hitch cooed, sloppily clapping her hands in a drunken effort to welcome the petite blonde.
Eren was stunned, feeling his stomach tied up in knots.
Annie sauntered into the kitchen and began making herself some tea.
"Come on and join us, Annie!" Hitch pleaded. "Bertolt will be here soon."
At the mention of Bertolt's invitation, Annie looked up. "Is that so?"
"Mhhmmm." Hitch winked. She stood up from the couch and implored her to take a seat. "Come on. Relax."
Annie reluctantly agreed and settled herself on the plush maroon couch, a cup of freshly brewed green tea in hand. Social gatherings were never really her favorite, but Bertolt was a childhood friend. She could enjoy his company regardless of their surroundings.
Eren's face turned red. While he sat on one end of the couch, Annie had nestled herself on the other. The only thing separating them now was a scheming Ymir, sitting in the middle, a sly grin from ear to ear.
The kickback resumed with most moving on from drinking to playing games, talking shit about professors they hoped would get hit by a truck, and/or bragging about their latest conquests. For Hitch, no topic was off limits.
Ymir briefly glanced at an unsuspecting, quiet Annie and smirked. Turning to face Eren, she was sure to be as coy as possible, hoping her words would avert Annie's ears.
"Now's your chance, Eren!" She whispered, taunting him whilst nudging his arm. "Annie's not gonna wait forever, ya know."
"What?" Eren shook his head. "Ymir… you're drunk. You're not thinking clearly."
Ymir narrowed her eyes. "Dammit, Eren! If you don't hit on her, I will!"
"Go ahead." Eren wouldn't budge.
Ymir took that as a challenge. Don't test me! "So Annie, what made you decide to crawl out of your room?" Her flirting game was weak, but "A" for effort.
Annie, having finished her tea, set her cup aside. "I live here, you know." She folded her arms across her chest. "I just needed a break from reading."
"What were you reading?" Ymir probed.
"The Tin Drum." Annie replied stoically.
Eren's eyes lit up. "By Gunter Grass?" He didn't mean to interrupt, but hearing about one of his favorite German literary works instantly caught his attention.
Annie, a bit taken aback, slowly nodded. "Yeah." She looked over at him. "Have you read it, Eren?"
"I've read the entire Danzig Trilogy." He noted the smirk on Ymir's face before continuing. "I've read them all in English, and now I'm trying to read them in German."
Annie's interest was piqued. Re-reading the series in their original language? "What for?"
"I'm majoring in German." Eren replied. "And Gunter Grass is one of my favorite German novelists." He then obliged his curiosity. "What made you want to read The Tin Drum?"
Annie tilted her head. "In my Western Civ class we're studying Postmodernism and my instructor recommended it."
"What do you think of it so far?" Eren asked enthusiastically, his face practically glowing with anticipation.
"I'm about halfway through, and it's very engaging. Grass's use of magic realism is actually quite brilliant." She replied. "But I could see how it was considered controversial when he first published it."
"Yeah, he's very political."
Ymir was struggling to follow the conversation; having never even heard of the book nor its author. "What's this book about?"
Eren and Annie exchanged looks, unsure if Ymir was capable of appreciating foreign literary works. "Every time I try to explain the plot to someone, it sounds weird…" Eren warned her.
"Can't be all that shocking." Ymir scoffed. "Trust me, nothing surprises me anymore."
"Okay." Eren sighed. "Long story short; it's about this guy born in Danzig named Oskar. He decides he never wants to grow up, so he throws himself down some stairs precisely at an angle that would permanently stunt his growth, thus retaining the stature and appearance of a child for the rest of his life."
Ymir laughed. "Seriously?!"
"It gets better." Eren continued. "He ends up having several affairs with women, he joins a group of performing dwarfs, all the while World War II is wrecking havoc in Europe and fuels many of the conflicts in the story. It gets... interesting later on, but I don't want to spoil anything for Annie." Taking note of Ymir's shocked face, he added one last thing. "It's actually a really good read, and it's highly regarded as a classic in post World War II literature."
"Wow." Ymir facepalmed herself. "I never could understand the appeal to all this… artsy stuff. You have to analyze every single paragraph to death to really understand the author's message. And even then, it doesn't always make sense."
"You're overthinking it, Ymir." Annie remarked casually. "What other books have you read?"
Ymir pondered the question, genuinely struggling to remember anything that stuck. Back in high school, sparknotes were a lifesaver when it came to tedious piles of English assignments. She rarely ever took the time to sit down and actually read the assigned material, merely skimming over the first few lines of the first few pages and scrolling through various articles on Wikipedia. "Romeo and Juliet."
"Anything else?" Eren asked, wondering how she managed to maintain an A in their English class.
"…The Great Gatsby, Of Mice and Men…" Ymir rubbed her chin. "To be honest, I don't even remember what happened in half the books I read back in high school."
Annie tucked a loose stray of hair behind her ear. "You got to start somewhere, right?"
Ymir was quick to make an objection. "If you're trying to get me to join your little German book club with Eren, just forget it."
Eren chuckled nervously. "Well, it doesn't have to be limited to German literature." Eyeing Annie curiously, he proceeded to initiate what he hoped would be a conversation delving into their preferences. "What else have you read, Annie?"
"Too broad of a question." Annie exhaled, deep in thought. "What haven't I read?" She looked over at Eren, surveying him closely.
His eyes…
"Do you read for school or for pleasure?" Eren asked.
"Both." Annie's eyes were momentarily lost in his features. "Mostly for pleasure, but it coincides perfectly with my studies." It was strange. They had sat together in Calculus almost every day during the week, and she'd occasionally see him in passing after volleyball practice. Yet, it wasn't until now that she realized…
"What are you majoring in again, Annie?" Ymir's question intercepted her assessment.
Annie shifted her gaze away from Eren, feeling her cheeks turn slightly pink. "English."
"Makes sense." Ymir nodded.
Eren gently placed a hand on Ymir's shoulder, but remained focused on Annie. "Have you read any of Stephen King's novels?"
Annie nodded. "I've read several, actually. He's one of my favorite authors."
Eren's eyes lit up. "Name your top three favorite."
Annie felt as though she was being tested, but obliged Eren's inquisitiveness. "It, The Body, and The Shining." She raised an eyebrow. "You?"
Eren wasted no time responding. "Carrie, The Green Mile, and definitely, The Shining. I've read all the books and then I watched all the movies."
"I haven't seen Carrie, but I read the book."
"What did you think?"
"The abusive relationship between her and her mother didn't sit well with me, but I guess that's what makes King a genius. He puts his characters, seemingly ordinary people, in terrifying situations and makes the most absurd and improbable of situations feel so authentic and intense that you're compelled to check the locks on the doors and sleep with the light on."
"His writing evokes strange emotions, that's for sure." Eren considered. "One minute you're freaked out, a couple pages later you're desperately rooting for the main character and hoping it doesn't end in a complete mess."
"Exactly. He's got a sharp ear for dialogue and a disarmingly, laid-back style." Annie relaxed her shoulders, fully invested in their exchange. "To be honest, I'm not really a horror fiction fan, but Stephen King is an exception. His work allowed me to appreciate the genre in a whole new light, and I admire that he's a pretty versatile writer."
"What would you say is your favorite genre then?" Eren inquired, fully prepared to completely geek out with a fellow bookworm following the open ended question.
Annie's lips curved slightly.
How much time do you have?
After a solid ten minutes of listening in on Eren and Annie's fascination with this book, that author, and, among other things, how book to film adaptations were often frustrating to no end, Ymir felt herself losing brain cells; utterly lost in the conversation.
They may as well have been speaking Greek.
"I know it's kind of corny, and maybe even cliché, but I've always had a soft spot for coming of age novels." Annie divulged.
Eren smiled. "They're among the best books I've ever read." He paused when he found himself enthralled by deep blue pools and rosy cheeks. The look on her face told him she was eager to hear more, so he continued. "The Magic Mountain, or Der Zauberberg, by Thomas Mann was truly spectacular."
"My instructor mentioned that one, too." Annie stated matter-of-factly. "I think you and her would get along really well. She seems to have an obsession with German literature."
"The term 'coming of age' is actually derived from the German word Bildungsroman, which means 'novel of formation,' or 'novel of education.' It's often used interchangeably with 'coming of age.'" Eren had acquired the useful piece of information from Armin back in high school.
"You learn something new every day." Annie remarked. He knew his stuff, and his dedication alone had earned her respect.
"Nerd." Ymir scoffed.
Eren ignored the snarky comment and resumed his discussion with Annie. "I read this one novel my freshman year of high school. It gave me insight on how others perceive the world around them, it depicted loneliness and anxiety in such a brutally honest way, and it just... really stuck with me. I don't know, it... was like the catalyst that got me into reading."
"So it encouraged you to read more?" Annie asked, leaning in. "Which novel?"
"It was written by Stephen Chbosky…" Before Eren could reveal the title, Annie was quick to recognize the name.
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower." She said each word delicately, expressing her fondness for the novel.
Eren was astonished. "Yeah." He nodded. "I guess you could say… that book changed my life."
Annie was in agreement. "It's in my top five for sure."
Ymir had been in plenty of awkward situations, but none were half as amusing as the situation she currently found herself in. Stuck in the middle between two prospective lovers, casually sharing their admiration for their favorite works of literature, she was surprised Annie hadn't grabbed Eren by the arm and forced him into her room yet; where she would then seduce the brunet and commence what would presumably be hours of passionate love-making.
The way they were looking at each other now reminded her of how Marina and Jenny had gazed into one another's eyes in the pilot episode of The L Word.
She chuckled when she realized that it was highly unlikely anyone else would get that reference.
"Wow. You two should take some sort of romantic compatibility test or something." Ymir teased.
Her joke made Eren feel a tad uneasy. "I think it's cool that we have similar interests…"
"It's practically a match-made in library heaven." Ymir laughed, wondering if she should just leave the two to their own devices. "I feel like I'm intruding." She muttered in Eren's direction.
"Well then this would be my singular, ultimate compatibility question…" Annie challenged, feeling it would be worth the risk. "What is your most… influential... important... life-altering book of all time?" Just as she felt she had been tested earlier, she was curious to see how he would respond to such a heavy question.
Eren paused for a moment. His eyes wandered around the room, never really focusing his gaze on a set object. After thinking back to all the books he'd stumbled upon and devoted himself to for many sleepless nights, shuffling through fond memories of stories with illustrious adventure, morally grey situations, and attaining the ultimate goal of self-efficacy, he made his choice. But he was reluctant to share something he considered personal; intimate, even.
A bizarre silence ensued. "I don't know if I should answer that." He finally replied. "What's yours?" His eyes slowly wandered to her lips, rendering him mesmerized in his partially flustered state.
"I asked you first." Annie was set on getting an answer out of him.
Ymir, being the brilliant matchmaker she thought she was, hatched a plan. It was practically fool-proof, given the set up they had with their cozy little seating arrangement on the couch.
"I have an idea." Ymir interjected. She briefly turned to Eren, pointing at her left ear. "Eren you can whisper yours in this ear." Then she turned to Annie and pointed at her right ear. "And Annie, you can whisper yours in this ear, and I'll tell you if you're compatible."
Without any hesitation, Eren nodded in agreement and promptly leaned closer to Ymir. He whispered his answer; a book Ymir had never even heard of. Surprise, surprise.
Then she motioned for Annie to follow suit, leaning in to hear the quiet murmur ease from the petite blonde's honest revelation.
After hearing their responses, a smug grin was plastered on Ymir's face. Far from feeling shocked or surprised, on the contrary, her naughty thoughts from before had just been confirmed. She was immensely satisfied. "Wow." She wheezed, standing up from the couch. "I'm just gonna leave you two alone to get married." She excused herself and joined in on a mundane, but friendly game of beer pong in the kitchen.
Eren and Annie were still nestled on the couch, eyes full of intrigue, waiting for the other to speak first.
"What did you say?" Eren inquired, heart racing; pulsating throughout his entire being.
Annie blinked, pressing her lips together in a thin line. "What did you say?" She countered.
Eren didn't even have to use the restroom.
He just needed a moment to gather his thoughts, maybe check himself out in the mirror, and perhaps reply to Mikasa's text from over an hour ago.
No vacancy. The room was being occupied; hopefully not by someone puking their guts out. Eren heard the faucet turn on, indicating an impending availability.
Annie approached him from behind. "You waiting for the washroom?"
Eren lost his train of thought. "Sort of." He mumbled, turning to face her. "I mean... yeah."
Annie continued to stare at him, not saying a word, wondering why she had waited until now to learn more about him. She figured from the moment they first met, he was smitten with her. Maybe it was nothing more than an innocent crush, a lingering curiosity in the back of his mind coupled with entertaining thoughts of what it would be like to hold her in his arms. She would often feel his eyes on her in both English and Calculus, but she ignored most of his attempts at striking up a conversation, keeping their relationship stagnant; a plateau stuck somewhere between acquaintance and classmate. She had hardly even given him a chance at developing a friendship with her, something she came to regret.
Why had she pushed him away before? What was holding her back?
The last half hour revealed the potential for something truly special to blossom between them. She was introduced to his kindness, his honesty, his propensity to lose his cool every time she came within five feet of him. And his eyes...
His eyes were a vibrant shade of emerald green. Deep brunet tresses complemented warmly tanned skin. The way his jaw clenched, a nervous tick; it was irresistibly adorable. His passion for literature was endearing, and rather rare in their generation, with most boys expressing interests in video games, inappropriate jokes, and garbage TV shows like South Park; activities that probably didn't require a functioning brain.
It was refreshing to meet someone with similar interests and values, especially in a day and age where hookup culture reigns supreme.
The door suddenly hurled open. Hitch exited the room, her makeup looking just as flawless as it did before those five shots of tequila. Miraculous.
After she sauntered away towards the living room, leaving the blonde and brunet alone in the hallway, Eren suspended any movement, as if waiting for permission to venture inside.
He extended his arm, holding the door open in an attempted gesture of chivalry. "You can go first, if you want."
Annie didn't even bother looking over her shoulder to confirm they weren't being watched. She grabbed him by the hand and pulled him into the washroom with her. She swiftly closed the door. A slight clicking noise soon followed after she locked it.
Eren couldn't believe what was happening. "Annie…?"
Annie slowly backed away from the door, inching closer and closer towards him. Closing the distance between them, they were mere centimeters apart. Eren's stature towered over her petite frame, so she reached for his collar, tugging on it hastily, until their lips were only a breath away.
Eren barely opened his mouth to say her name once more, before he found himself locked into a deep kiss.
Her lips were soft, pliant. She tasted sweet, tender. Exactly how he imagined it.
At first, he's tense, shocked by her boldness and ferocity. Until she moves her hands up to his shoulders, and caresses him longingly in a gentle embrace. He feels himself weaken at the knees as she runs her hands through his deep brown hair, her tongue still exploring his mouth. Losing himself in her touch, he places his hands around her waist and presses her against the wall, savoring the sensation of hearing a satisfied moan escape her mouth in a light gasp. He moves his mouth briefly away from her lips, making his way down to her neck, leading a trail of kisses along her jaw. She's had enough of his teasing, and pulls him forward so their lips meet again. She's kissing him in earnest now, her hand stroking his face, his arms wrapped around her in a warmth unlike anything she's ever felt. And his scent; he smells so good.
She says his name, and then pauses like she's going to say something else.
In an instant, he's jolted back to reality.
He's reminded of Mikasa and an overwhelming combination of guilt and confusion loom over him.
Mikasa…
Face flushed, hair messed up, Annie watched as Eren pulled away and took a giant step back.
In sheer, total silence, he studied her once more. She was still leaning against the wall, her golden locks grazing her shoulders.
The beauty she possessed was eerie, strange, almost otherworldly; it took practically every fiber of his being to hold himself back, preventing him from hurling himself towards her and giving in to his lustful desires; finishing what they started.
What did any of this mean anyway? What was Annie thinking?
"I-I'm sorry…" The words slipped from his mouth in a despondent whisper. Annie remained motionless, still watching him wordlessly, her breathing slightly labored.
Eren turned and left the room, closing the door behind him.
He didn't bother to say goodbye or announce his departure on his way out of the apartment.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Eren began a brisk pace onward for his dorm, still trying to process the predicament he found himself in. The memory of Annie's lips pressed against his haunted him the entire night, all the while feeling conflicted about his relationship with Mikasa.
Eren realized he was well on his way to being completely screwed.
